Act V, Scene 3

Before Angiers.

[Alarum. Excursions. Enter JOAN LA PUCELLE]

• Joan la Pucelle. The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.
  Now help, ye charming spells and periapts;
  And ye choice spirits that admonish me
  And give me signs of future accidents. 2450
  [Thunder]
  You speedy helpers, that are substitutes
  Under the lordly monarch of the north,
  Appear and aid me in this enterprise.
  [Enter Fiends] 2455
  This speedy and quick appearance argues proof
  Of your accustom'd diligence to me.
  Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd
  Out of the powerful regions under earth,
  Help me this once, that France may get the field. 2460
  [They walk, and speak not]
  O, hold me not with silence over-long!
  Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,
  I'll lop a member off and give it you
  In earnest of further benefit, 2465
  So you do condescend to help me now.
  [They hang their heads]
  No hope to have redress? My body shall
  Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.
  [They shake their heads] 2470
  Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice
  Entreat you to your wonted furtherance?
  Then take my soul, my body, soul and all,
  Before that England give the French the foil.
  [They depart] 2475
  See, they forsake me! Now the time is come
  That France must vail her lofty-plumed crest
  And let her head fall into England's lap.
  My ancient incantations are too weak,
  And hell too strong for me to buckle with: 2480
  Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust.
  [Exit]
  [Excursions. Re-enter JOAN LA PUCELLE fighting hand]
  to hand with YORK. JOAN LA PUCELLE is taken. The
  French fly] 2485

• Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). Damsel of France, I think I have you fast:
  Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms
  And try if they can gain your liberty.
  A goodly prize, fit for the devil's grace!
  See, how the ugly wench doth bend her brows, 2490
  As if with Circe she would change my shape!

• Joan la Pucelle. Changed to a worser shape thou canst not be.

• Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man;
  No shape but his can please your dainty eye.

• Joan la Pucelle. A plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee! 2495
  And may ye both be suddenly surprised
  By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!

• Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). Fell banning hag, enchantress, hold thy tongue!

• Joan la Pucelle. I prithee, give me leave to curse awhile.

• Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the stake. 2500

[Exeunt]

[Alarum. Enter SUFFOLK with MARGARET in his hand]

• Earl of Suffolk. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.
  [Gazes on her]
  O fairest beauty, do not fear nor fly! 2505
  For I will touch thee but with reverent hands;
  I kiss these fingers for eternal peace,
  And lay them gently on thy tender side.
  Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee.

• Queen Margaret. Margaret my name, and daughter to a king, 2510
  The King of Naples, whosoe'er thou art.

• Earl of Suffolk. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd.
  Be not offended, nature's miracle,
  Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me:
  So doth the swan her downy cygnets save, 2515
  Keeping them prisoner underneath her wings.
  Yet, if this servile usage once offend.
  Go, and be free again, as Suffolk's friend.
  [She is going]
  O, stay! I have no power to let her pass; 2520
  My hand would free her, but my heart says no
  As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,
  Twinkling another counterfeited beam,
  So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.
  Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak: 2525
  I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind.
  Fie, de la Pole! disable not thyself;
  Hast not a tongue? is she not here?
  Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?
  Ay, beauty's princely majesty is such, 2530
  Confounds the tongue and makes the senses rough.

• Queen Margaret. Say, Earl of Suffolk—if thy name be so—
  What ransom must I pay before I pass?
  For I perceive I am thy prisoner.

• Earl of Suffolk. How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit, 2535
  Before thou make a trial of her love?

• Queen Margaret. Why speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay?

• Earl of Suffolk. She's beautiful, and therefore to be woo'd;
  She is a woman, therefore to be won.

• Queen Margaret. Wilt thou accept of ransom? yea, or no. 2540

• Earl of Suffolk. Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife;
  Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?

• Queen Margaret. I were best to leave him, for he will not hear.

• Earl of Suffolk. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.

• Queen Margaret. He talks at random; sure, the man is mad. 2545

• Earl of Suffolk. And yet a dispensation may be had.

• Queen Margaret. And yet I would that you would answer me.

• Earl of Suffolk. I'll win this Lady Margaret. For whom?
  Why, for my king: tush, that's a wooden thing!

• Queen Margaret. He talks of wood: it is some carpenter. 2550

• Earl of Suffolk. Yet so my fancy may be satisfied,
  And peace established between these realms
  But there remains a scruple in that too;
  For though her father be the King of Naples,
  Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet is he poor, 2555
  And our nobility will scorn the match.

• Queen Margaret. Hear ye, captain, are you not at leisure?

• Earl of Suffolk. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much.
  Henry is youthful and will quickly yield.
  Madam, I have a secret to reveal. 2560

• Queen Margaret. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight,
  And will not any way dishonour me.

• Earl of Suffolk. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

• Queen Margaret. Perhaps I shall be rescued by the French;
  And then I need not crave his courtesy. 2565

• Earl of Suffolk. Sweet madam, give me a hearing in a cause—

• Queen Margaret. Tush, women have been captivate ere now.

• Earl of Suffolk. Lady, wherefore talk you so?

• Queen Margaret. I cry you mercy, 'tis but Quid for Quo.

• Earl of Suffolk. Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose 2570
  Your bondage happy, to be made a queen?

• Queen Margaret. To be a queen in bondage is more vile
  Than is a slave in base servility;
  For princes should be free.

• Earl of Suffolk. And so shall you, 2575
  If happy England's royal king be free.

• Queen Margaret. Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?

• Earl of Suffolk. I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen,
  To put a golden sceptre in thy hand
  And set a precious crown upon thy head, 2580
  If thou wilt condescend to be my—

• Queen Margaret. What?

• Earl of Suffolk. His love.

• Queen Margaret. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.

• Earl of Suffolk. No, gentle madam; I unworthy am 2585
  To woo so fair a dame to be his wife,
  And have no portion in the choice myself.
  How say you, madam, are ye so content?

• Queen Margaret. An if my father please, I am content.

• Earl of Suffolk. Then call our captains and our colours forth. 2590
  And, madam, at your father's castle walls
  We'll crave a parley, to confer with him.
  [A parley sounded. Enter REIGNIER on the walls]
  See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner!

• Reignier. To whom? 2595

• Earl of Suffolk. To me.

• Reignier. Suffolk, what remedy?
  I am a soldier, and unapt to weep,
  Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.

• Earl of Suffolk. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord: 2600
  Consent, and for thy honour give consent,
  Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king;
  Whom I with pain have woo'd and won thereto;
  And this her easy-held imprisonment
  Hath gained thy daughter princely liberty. 2605

• Reignier. Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?

• Earl of Suffolk. Fair Margaret knows
  That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or feign.

• Reignier. Upon thy princely warrant, I descend
  To give thee answer of thy just demand. 2610

[Exit from the walls]

• Earl of Suffolk. And here I will expect thy coming.

[Trumpets sound. Enter REIGNIER, below]

• Reignier. Welcome, brave earl, into our territories:
  Command in Anjou what your honour pleases. 2615

• Earl of Suffolk. Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child,
  Fit to be made companion with a king:
  What answer makes your grace unto my suit?

• Reignier. Since thou dost deign to woo her little worth
  To be the princely bride of such a lord; 2620
  Upon condition I may quietly
  Enjoy mine own, the country Maine and Anjou,
  Free from oppression or the stroke of war,
  My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.

• Earl of Suffolk. That is her ransom; I deliver her; 2625
  And those two counties I will undertake
  Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.

• Reignier. And I again, in Henry's royal name,
  As deputy unto that gracious king,
  Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith. 2630

• Earl of Suffolk. Reignier of France, I give thee kingly thanks,
  Because this is in traffic of a king.
  [Aside]
  And yet, methinks, I could be well content
  To be mine own attorney in this case. 2635
  I'll over then to England with this news,
  And make this marriage to be solemnized.
  So farewell, Reignier: set this diamond safe
  In golden palaces, as it becomes.

• Reignier. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace 2640
  The Christian prince, King Henry, were he here.

• Queen Margaret. Farewell, my lord: good wishes, praise and prayers
  Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret.

[Going]

• Earl of Suffolk. Farewell, sweet madam: but hark you, Margaret; 2645
  No princely commendations to my king?

• Queen Margaret. Such commendations as becomes a maid,
  A virgin and his servant, say to him.

• Earl of Suffolk. Words sweetly placed and modestly directed.
  But madam, I must trouble you again; 2650
  No loving token to his majesty?

• Queen Margaret. Yes, my good lord, a pure unspotted heart,
  Never yet taint with love, I send the king.

• Earl of Suffolk. And this withal.

[Kisses her]

• Queen Margaret. That for thyself: I will not so presume
  To send such peevish tokens to a king.

[Exeunt REIGNIER and MARGARET]

• Earl of Suffolk. O, wert thou for myself! But, Suffolk, stay;
  Thou mayst not wander in that labyrinth; 2660
  There Minotaurs and ugly treasons lurk.
  Solicit Henry with her wondrous praise:
  Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount,
  And natural graces that extinguish art;
  Repeat their semblance often on the seas, 2665
  That, when thou comest to kneel at Henry's feet,
  Thou mayst bereave him of his wits with wonder.

[Exit]